Afed Ullah Khan - Corresponding author: National Institute of Urban Infrastructure Planning, University of Engineering and Technology Peshawar, Pakistan
Jehanzeb Khan - Government Post Graduate College Kohat, Higher Education Department, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
Fayaz Ahmad Khan - National Institute of Urban Infrastructure Planning, University of Engineering and Technology Peshawar, Pakistan
Rooman Khan - Basic Health Unit of Hakeem Bharat Bannu, Health Department Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
Raza Ullah Khan - Department of Chemistry, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, Nanjing, China
Liaqat Ali Shah - Department of Civil Engineering, University of Engineering and Technology Peshawar (Bannu Campus), Bannu, Pakistan
Zahoor Khan - Department of Civil Engineering, University of Engineering and Technology Peshawar (Bannu Campus), Bannu, Pakistan
Yasir Irfan Badrashi - National Institute of Urban Infrastructure Planning, University of Engineering and Technology Peshawar, Pakistan

Background: The impacts of lockdown on air pollution have been examined in various parts of the world. The concentration of main air pollutants has been decreased owing to a decline in anthropogenic activities like fossil fuel burning, etc. The main aim of this research was to assess the impacts of lockdown on air pollution of the main urban areas of Pakistan. Methods: The present study was conducted to assess the air quality index (AQI) of the main urban areas of Pakistan based on the pre- and post-lockdown effects and mortality rate due to coronavirus disease ۲۰۱۹ (COVID-۱۹). Hotspot analysis was conducted to assess the most vulnerable spots at the country level. Results: The AQI greatly improved in all the main cities of Pakistan which ranges from ۵۱ to ۸۷. The pre- and post-lockdown AQI were categorized from unhealthy for sensitive groups to hazardous and moderate, respectively. There are noticeable hotspots in the vicinity of Lahore and Karachi. The level of nitrogen dioxide (NO۲) dropped ۴۵%, ۴۹%, ۲۰%, ۳۵%, and ۵۶% in Peshawar, Lahore, Multan, Karachi, Islamabad, and Rawalpindi, respectively. Conclusion: Nature healed due to lockdown, which is the only good face of the COVID-۱۹ pandemic. The temporary lockdown greatly improved air quality which may stimulate the policymakers, researchers, and governments for the smart use of resources to minimize emissions to heal the nature. The present study also suggests the application of hotspot analysis in different contexts for the evidencebased care services decisions during the COVID-۱۹ pandemic.

Nitrogen dioxide, COVID-۱۹, Air pollution, Disease outbreaks